"Dance with the Spirits”

Saturday 28^th November, 2017

Jindabyne

By Wanda Lach

This weekend the Polish community celebrated the bicentenary of the passing of their beloved Tadeusz Kosciuszko.  The 15^th of October was the 200^th anniversary of the death of the Polish hero

“Not only is this year 200 years since the death of General Tadeusz Kosciuszko, but it is also 10 years since Lajkonik first danced on the summit of Mt Kosciuszko, in the historic concert organised by Puls Polonii "Kosciuszko Music on Mt Kosciuszko".
Come to Jindabyne for what may well be the last Kosciuszko Festival on 28th and 29th October 2017. Lajkonik and Zespol Lowicz from Melbourne will be performing. Lajkonik will be performing in the first-ever version of the Polish-Aboriginal Collaborative Ballet, entitled "Dance with Spirits", arrangements and choreography by Urszula Lang, Alina Brulinska, Jan Pogonowski, and others, to a collection of music including special pieces composed by Josef Miller of Melbourne (Dance of the Mountain Daisies, Dance of the Bogong Moths, and Unity Finale, much-loved music and songs by the even more loved and remembered (in our hearts always) composer, singer-song writer, history teacher and author, John Hospodaryk, Chopin, General Kosciuszko himself, and folk music by various orchestras from Poland.”  (source:  https://www.facebook.com/Lajkoniksydney/ )

In Jindabyne there was a special event held at the Memorial Hall. Polish food, Polish regional dances and presentations. Later the same evening 3 short films were shown about the life and times of Kosciuszko and Strzelecki, the Polish explorer who named our mountain after the much revered Polish leader.  The Ukrainian ambassador, Mr Mykola Kulinicz,  Belarus ambassador, Mr Viktor Shykh and  Polish Chargé d'affairs, Mr Piotr Buszta, were there as were other Polish officials. Our newly elected mayor of the Snowy-Monaro Shire, John Rooney, and councillor John Castellari were there also.

What made this event even more special was the collaboration with the Ngarigo people. A small group had been sponsored ( by Kosciuszko Heritage Inc.) to travel to Poland and visit places associated with Kosciuszko and to sample the culture, food and hospitality of the Polish people.

These same Ngarigo representatives were there on Saturday. Ngarigo elder, Aunty Deanne Davison and  Aunty Iris White were there as was David Dixon. Aunty Iris White read out some of the preludes to the dances.  There were a couple of combined performances which integrated the Ngarigo and western cultures in ballet – performed by a junior dance team – the Lajkonik Junior Dance group – dancing the Waltz of the Mountain Daisies to music composed by Josef Miller,  choreography by Urszula Lang.  

There were 2 young Ngarigo ladie, Michelle Dixon and Tamiki Townsend,  who presented 2 of their songs to the audience – sung in their native tongue and in English.

David Dixon presented the Polish representative, Mr. Andrzej Kozka, of the Kosciuszko group with a didgeridoo as thanks for the warmth and hospitality shown by the Polish group.  A message stick and a beautiful shawl was also presented to Dr. Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek.

The two cultures are so dissimilar yet both peoples have had their countries attacked and possessed by invaders. Both cultures have lost large numbers of their population in their efforts to keep and preserve what was rightfully theirs. Both cultures have suffered from an era of stolen children. In fact, my mother was one of these. A young girl who was taken from her home to work in a foreign country.  My mother was luckier than most. Her ‘host’ family looked after their workers at least and they probably fared better during the disaster that was the second world war.

Also at the celebration was the well known Polish pianist – Krzysztof Malek. A few years back I attended a concert in Cooma where Krzysztof Malek played. It was a fundraiser for a grand piano.  On Saturday I had the privilege to listen again to Krzysztof , who is well known for his improvisations of Chopin, play on that grand piano! His recital included Fr. Chopin, Polonais; T.Kosciuszko, Polonez and a Waltz and also Mozart’s Turkish March. Also playing was a young 16 year old Polish lad, Julian Gilewski,  who has won numerous awards and is also a composer. He regaled us with classic Chopin through to George Gershwin and a piece that was composed by Kosciuszko himself  – just superb.

The end piece of the celebration was a short dance piece that had 3 representatives carrying their flags – the Polish flag, the Aboriginal flag, carried by Aunty Iris White's grandaughter,  and the Australian flag. All the dancers took part for this finale – ‘The Unity Finale’, music composed by Josef Miller (Melbourne)